NLL

Self Inks Extension with Rochester

from Press Release

The two-time defending World Champion Rochester Knighthawks have
re-signed veteran defenseman Scott Self to a three-year contract
good through the 2016 season.

Self, 34, was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for
Alex “Kedoh” Hill midway through last season, and made
his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. He is in his 14th season
in the National Lacrosse League after winning his first
championship with the Knighthawks last year.

“I’m hopeful that – knock on wood – that I
can finish my career in Rochester,” Self said.
“It’s a good feeling that they still believe I’m
a big part of this team going forward.”

“Scott’s a veteran leader and a solid
defenseman,” Assistant Coach Jason Johnson said.
“He’s a good leader on the floor. Although he may not
be as vocal as some of the others, he leads by the way he plays.
He’s also an extra man that can take faceoffs, and if you
watch him in practice, he’s not a bad shooter
either.”

Self is the latest member of the league’s top defense from
2013 to sign a long-term deal with the Knighthawks. Paul Dawson and
Mike Kirk each agreed to four-year contracts, while goaltender Matt
Vinc signed a five-year deal. Team captain Sid Smith inked a
seven-year deal as well.

“Scott is a steady force on the backend. He’s very
quiet, but he does all of the little things right,” said
Kirk, an assistant captain for the Knighthawks. “When I first
came into the league, I had the opportunity to learn from
‘Selfer’ in Chicago. I can still learn from a guy like
that and the rest of the team can learn from him because he does
all of the little things so well.”

In addition, Self’s younger brother, Brad, re-signed with
the Knighthawks for four years.

“We built a really solid foundation with our defense back
there and he’s just another piece that fits in real
well,” said Self’s younger brother. “He’s
obviously a guy who has a lot of experience. He’s been a
captain for quite some time in Peterborough. He’s a pretty
calming influence, a pretty relaxed guy. He’s a pretty
competitive guy and he’s really comfortable with the
scheme.”

The pair has played on the same NLL team twice before reuniting in
Rochester, but having one brother on each end of the I-90 rivalry
with the Bandits was hard for their parents. Ironically, Scott was
drafted in the 1999 NLL Entry Draft by Buffalo the same year Brad
was taken in the NHL Draft by the Sabres.

“It’s great for Brad and me, and for our family, to be
able to drive down there every weekend together, suit up together
and play, and try to win championships together,” Self
said.

With contract negotiations now finished, Self can focus on his
performance on the turf. He recovered six loose balls and forced a
turnover in the season-opening win against Minnesota on December
28th. Through 190 career games, he has scored 43 goals and 124
assists while gathering 946 loose balls. Self is also a three-time
All-Star (2006, 2008 and 2012).

“I really like our defensive scheme,” he said.
“It’s very, very simple. We’re grateful to have a
goalie like Matt Vinc too. We definitely give up shots, but we
dictate where we give up the shots from, and Matt’s able to
kind of gobble those up. It’s a fun system to play
in.”